It's a quarter past midnight and she ain't no Cinderella
But she's swallowed all your best lines
And she's staying in the hotel
And you've got her number from the bar tab
That she's running,
The circus comes to town.
Temptation Oh such a temptation,
Temptation Oh such a temptation.

The cage door is open and your living on the high wire
Clowning in the spotlight
You've got no one to bring you down
The cab's impatient, this ladies waiting
The ringmaster calls you down
Temptation Oh such a temptation
Temptation Oh such a temptation,

The carnival man.
So glad to know you, the carnival man
You're shaking hands with the carnival man
So pleased to meet you, the carnival man
Call me Mr. Temptation.

Like a bullet in a chamber that you're thinking is empty
You press it to your temple with a finger on the trigger
An act of bravado, an act of defiance
It's all eyes upon you now.
Temptation Oh such a temptation
Temptation Oh such a temptation

The carnival man.
So glad to know you, the carnival man
You're shaking hands with the carnival man
So pleased to meet you, the carnival man
Call me Mr. Temptation.
Is there anything you want?
Anything you desire?
Just tell me anything you need.
They call me Mr Temptation.

You're the life and the soul of every party
Now you're walking wounded, just another casualty
You've got my sympathy, you've got my calling card
This call's collect, I'm the carnival man, Mr Temptation,
Carnival man.
This is the day that the circus leaves town.
Goodbye carnival man,
This is the day that the circus leaves town.
Goodbye,
This is the day that the circus leaves town.